Guide To The Risk Factors, Causes, And Complications Of Aortic Stenosis

Aortic stenosis refers to a condition in which the aortic valve leaflets do not function properly because they become too stiff to open completely. The aortic valve has to maintain the ability to open fully for blood to exit the heart and flow through the aorta smoothly. When blood does not flow smoothly from the heart into the aorta, the heart muscle must work much harder to pump blood. Symptoms include a heart murmur, dizziness upon exertion, fatigue, appetite loss, chest pain, breathlessness upon exertion, heart palpitations, and poor weight gain. This condition is diagnosed using tests such as a physical exam, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, stress test, computerized tomography scan, chest x-ray, cardiac MRI, and cardiac catheterization.